The early age of the Medieval Period was considered dark. This is because religion was the basis of everything. Religion controlled people; people who came up with ideas against the church were excommunicated. Therefore there was less literature and art because many people feared the punishment of the church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages
"The concept of a Dark Age was created by the Italian scholar Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca) in the 1330s and was originally intended as a sweeping criticism of the character of Late Latinliterature.[5] Later historians expanded the term to refer to the transitional period between ClassicalRoman Antiquity and the High Middle Ages, including not only the lack of Latin literature, but also a lack of contemporary written history, general demographic decline, limited building activity and material cultural achievements in general. Popular culture has further expanded on the term as a vehicle to depict the Middle Ages as a time of backwardness, extending its pejorative use and expanding its scope.[6]" http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/485813 Modern day historians often say that that time period (from about 500 to 1000 A.D., especially the earlier half) could be referred to as "Dark Ages" because of so little documented written history from that time period. Historians know very little about that time due to the scarcity of such original source documents, whereas we have many more original written documents from the later Middle Ages.
The Medieval Period was considered "dark" because the way of life was so bad. In the aftermath of the plague, people turned to the church for help. In doing so the church became the basis of life and law. Because of this, literature and entertainment were limited which made life boring and plain for most people. The church was the government and they controled the literature that was provided. If you disagreed with these ideas then you were killed or considered an outlier to society. Which scared people into believing whatever the church said. Also education wasn't what it is now. People weren't taught in books like now. They were taught whatever the priest or bishop said. But eventually this was overcome and gave way to a much better time considered the "Enlightenment." (Rich D)
There are characteristics that make a time period dark, most of which include either a collapse of society or a cultural decline. The Early Medieval Period is considered "dark" for several reasons. One is because of the religious absolutism at the time, where a person had two options: Follow the Catholic church or die. Catholic derives from several words that mean "universe" or "whole." A person who followed any other sect were considered heretics. Any opposition to the Catholic church resulted in excommunication. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-religion.htm The Enlightenment, completely opposite from the Dark Ages, was when people began relying on science and logic rather than blind faith. The Enlightenment marks an end to the censorship of ideas (KevinS)
A few sources claim the Dark Ages were called so because little was known about them at the time. Indeed, the "Dark Ages" was first used by Petrarch, who lived in the 14th century. Few archeological finds and lack of knowledge in general resulted in the categorization of "dark" by the scholars looking back on the era. http://www.allabouthistory.org/the-dark-ages.htm The Renaissance philosophers believed they were rediscovering civilization, and considered the time periods before them barbaric. So, according to those sources, the term is simply outdated. (KevinS)
Many factors contribute to the "darkness" of the early medieval period. One thing i think that contributed is the fact that the Catholic church controlled many aspects of peoples lives. With the lack of education, many people just listened to what their priests told them, and people who did form ideas were excommunicated, and some even sentenced to death, like the Spanish Inquisition. The absence of new ideas and philosophies is also a reason this period was considered dark. Nobody heard any ideas that weren't from the Catholic church, so there was no progression of discoveries. (KaliK)
The Dark ages was titled the Dark Ages becuase of the lack of knowladge abou this time period, as well as the religous struggle being faced. The Protesants and the Catholics had opposites veiws along with ideas. The Protestants wanted to transform the Catholics back into good Christians, though the catholics did not want to change, they thought they were fine the way they were.Intelectual thinkers thought of religion as darkness because they thoguht those who followed religion were lying to themselves and creating a false reality. They saw religion as the contrary if fact and reason. http://www.allabouthistory.org/the-dark-ages.htm (Shelley M)
The Medieval times were known as the dark ages for many reasons. At this time in historyreligious beliefs were very strong. The church took over and laid down rules. One rule was that people werent allowed to express themselfs through literature or art. This made life dark since literature sheds light, and now people were forbidden to write so this made it dark. Everyone obeyed these rules in fear of being an outcast.(kellie)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages
"The concept of a Dark Age was created by the Italian scholar Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca) in the 1330s and was originally intended as a sweeping criticism of the character of Late Latin literature.[5] Later historians expanded the term to refer to the transitional period between Classical Roman Antiquity and the High Middle Ages, including not only the lack of Latin literature, but also a lack of contemporary written history, general demographic decline, limited building activity and material cultural achievements in general. Popular culture has further expanded on the term as a vehicle to depict the Middle Ages as a time of backwardness, extending its pejorative use and expanding its scope.[6]"
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/485813
Modern day historians often say that that time period (from about 500 to 1000 A.D., especially the earlier half) could be referred to as "Dark Ages" because of so little documented written history from that time period. Historians know very little about that time due to the scarcity of such original source documents, whereas we have many more original written documents from the later Middle Ages.
The Medieval Period was considered "dark" because the way of life was so bad. In the aftermath of the plague, people turned to the church for help. In doing so the church became the basis of life and law. Because of this, literature and entertainment were limited which made life boring and plain for most people. The church was the government and they controled the literature that was provided. If you disagreed with these ideas then you were killed or considered an outlier to society. Which scared people into believing whatever the church said. Also education wasn't what it is now. People weren't taught in books like now. They were taught whatever the priest or bishop said. But eventually this was overcome and gave way to a much better time considered the "Enlightenment." (Rich D)
There are characteristics that make a time period dark, most of which include either a collapse of society or a cultural decline. The Early Medieval Period is considered "dark" for several reasons. One is because of the religious absolutism at the time, where a person had two options: Follow the Catholic church or die. Catholic derives from several words that mean "universe" or "whole." A person who followed any other sect were considered heretics. Any opposition to the Catholic church resulted in excommunication. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-ages-religion.htm The Enlightenment, completely opposite from the Dark Ages, was when people began relying on science and logic rather than blind faith. The Enlightenment marks an end to the censorship of ideas (KevinS)
A few sources claim the Dark Ages were called so because little was known about them at the time. Indeed, the "Dark Ages" was first used by Petrarch, who lived in the 14th century. Few archeological finds and lack of knowledge in general resulted in the categorization of "dark" by the scholars looking back on the era. http://www.allabouthistory.org/the-dark-ages.htm The Renaissance philosophers believed they were rediscovering civilization, and considered the time periods before them barbaric. So, according to those sources, the term is simply outdated. (KevinS)
Many factors contribute to the "darkness" of the early medieval period. One thing i think that contributed is the fact that the Catholic church controlled many aspects of peoples lives. With the lack of education, many people just listened to what their priests told them, and people who did form ideas were excommunicated, and some even sentenced to death, like the Spanish Inquisition. The absence of new ideas and philosophies is also a reason this period was considered dark. Nobody heard any ideas that weren't from the Catholic church, so there was no progression of discoveries. (KaliK)
The Dark ages was titled the Dark Ages becuase of the lack of knowladge abou this time period, as well as the religous struggle being faced. The Protesants and the Catholics had opposites veiws along with ideas. The Protestants wanted to transform the Catholics back into good Christians, though the catholics did not want to change, they thought they were fine the way they were.Intelectual thinkers thought of religion as darkness because they thoguht those who followed religion were lying to themselves and creating a false reality. They saw religion as the contrary if fact and reason. http://www.allabouthistory.org/the-dark-ages.htm (Shelley M)
The Medieval times were known as the dark ages for many reasons. At this time in historyreligious beliefs were very strong. The church took over and laid down rules. One rule was that people werent allowed to express themselfs through literature or art. This made life dark since literature sheds light, and now people were forbidden to write so this made it dark. Everyone obeyed these rules in fear of being an outcast.(kellie)